Breaking Out

by Gayle Parness

  I whispered, so baldy wouldn’t tear off my arm. “Is it better to let you assholes take me into the woods and kill me there? “Cause I don’t think so.” And I let out the loudest scream I could manage. I mean, shit, they didn’t have a gun to my head or a knife to my gut.

  “Fuck.” They both jumped up and ran out the door, everyone in the shop was staring at me like I was nuts.

  “They were gonna take me into the woods and rape me.” I explained, fuming. That dope who was hitting on me must have run to get his friends. What a wuss.

  “Maybe you should leave, miss.” The guy in front of me had a tag that said Rich Sokol, Manager.

  “What?”

  “We know those two. We don’t want any trouble.”

  “How about I call the cops?”

  “Do what you want. Just call them from outside.”

  “You can’t kick me out. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “You’re disturbing the peace.”

  “Like hell I am!” I shouted. The other customers turned away. Through the large window I could see the second two lurking across the street. Great. Just great. “They’re still out there waiting for me.”

  “There’s nothing I can do. The Catalina Pack owns this neighborhood.”

  “You should call the WPC.”

  “I do that and my store’s burned to ash or worse, they hurt my family.”

  “Do you know of any wolves who’ve gone missing? Wolves not from Catalina?”

  “Yeah. The San Gabriel Mountain Pack has been around asking about two of their members.”

  “Do you remember their names?”

  “I have it written down. I’ll get it.” He disappeared behind a door in the back.

  I pulled out my cell and called Jay.

  “Where are you?”

  “In the coffee shop half a block up the street. Don’t come here. If they see you you’ll be in danger.”

  “If who sees me?”

  “Catalina wolves. They were pretty pissed off that I was asking questions.”

  “You were freakin’ asking Catalina Pack wolves questions about the murder? Are you nuts?”

  “I was being proactive.”

  “You were being psychopathic.”

  “You’re an idiot.” I heard mumbling in the background. “Never mind. Charlie’s coming. You better wait right there and not go out. You won’t recognize him, but he’ll be there in a minute. He’s got red hair.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  A medium sized red headed guy came strolling into the shop. As soon as he saw me, he waved, weaving through tables to sit across from me, lookin’ all cheerful. No one in the shop would’ve known he was pissed off—except me. He whispered, “What were you thinking?”

  “How did you do that?”

  “Demon magic.”

  “The fae can’t do it?”

  “It’s rare for both species.”

  “You won the magical lottery, huh?”

  “Stop changing the subject and answer my question.”

  “You guys keep investigating while I’m sent off to walk Samson. You told the chieftain that you wanted me to help you with your P.I. business. So why are you ignoring what I can do to help?”

  “Like get yourself killed?” He looked at the frightened faces of the other customers. “This is very helpful.”

  “I thought you were different. You talk the big talk and then you’re like everyone else.”

  “Ivy, I don’t want you to get hurt. You’re my responsibility.”

  “Why am I your responsibility but not Jay or Rylen?”

  “I’m responsible for their safety, too.”

  “But you treat them like equals.”

  He ran his hand through his curly hair, looking a little shocked when it felt so different than the wavy longer hair he’d been used to. “You’re…”

  “A female, right?

  “Yeah, obviously.”

  “Jay told me your mom kicks butt.”

  Charlie grinned, his freckled face giving him a farm boy look. “She sure does. But she’s been training for eighteen years.”

  “I haven’t seen you and Jay training since we’ve been together.”

  “That’s changing today.”

  “I can kick butt too.” I glanced out the window again. Those guys were still out there. One of them was on his cell phone pointing at the coffee shop.

  “It’s not that you’re female, it’s that you’re not trained to protect yourself.”

  “Jay signed me up at the gym.”

  “Yeah? That’s great.”

  “He said he’s going to train me to fight.”

  “He’s a great martial artist. A gym is a perfect place to start.” He looked me over, sizing me up. “Can we reach a compromise?”

  “Talk.”

  “While you’re in training, you’ll work in the office, help me handle customers, do paperwork and research. Agree?”

  I frowned, but I really had no choice. “Agree.”

  “When you show me that you can handle yourself, then depending on the case, I’ll send you out with a partner whose orders you will follow. But it’s my decision. And if you sneak out solo and put yourself in danger again, that’s it. You’re out.

  I thought about what waited for me back at court. I nodded.

  “Say the words.”

  “I agree, but I don’t like waiting.“ I picked up my spoon. “Want me to slice open my palm? Maybe there’s a bread knife around.”

  “Don’t tempt me. You’re important to me and I won’t take chances.”

  “Why do you give a shit?”

  “I do. That’s all. Jay does too.”

  The manager came back with a scrap of paper. “It took me a while to find it.”

  “What’s this?” Charlie asked.

  “The San Gabriel Mountain Pack is missing two pack members.”

  “There’s hope for you yet.” He was smiling now. It made me feel good.

  “Okay, Archie, how’re you gonna get us past the wolves?”

  “One of them is in the alley behind the store.” Rich the manager piped in. ”Please Miss, I’d appreciate it very much if you’d leave. I can’t afford having my business torn up in a wolf fight.”

  “We’re off.” Charlie stood. “Can we leave through the back?”

  “Of course.”

  “Forget you ever saw us, okay?” Rich nodded, his eyes glazing for a second. Charlie took my hand pulling me through the kitchen and out the back door.

  “Did you just…?”

  “Can’t risk him blabbing about the information he gave you.” His expression was grim, like he didn’t like using his magic to change someone’s memories, but whoa, I was sure glad I was on his side.

  Like Rich said, Joe was waiting for me in the back alley behind the building.

  “Hello, sweet thing. Got yourself a new friend?” He looked Charlie over. “Not much to look at, is he?”

  “He’s a lot hotter than you, dumbass.”

  “He is, brother.” The other two wolves had overheard, moving down the alley at a leisurely pace. The only exit was past them. They were laughing, thinking they had everything under control. Man, were they wrong.

  CHARLIE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  This was not how I expected to spend the afternoon. Leave it to Ivy to attract the attention of three large pack wolves, all giving off waves of can’t-wait-to-kick-butt energy. Their auras were crimson, a sure sign of trouble.

  “Wait in the doorway, Ivy, out of the way and quiet. That’s an order.” She nodded frantically, picking up a broken bottle and stepping into the shade of the doorway. She calmed herself with a deep breath and focused her gaze on the closest wolf.

  I stepped forward, putting myself between Ivy and the wolf who’d spoken. “Leave the female alone. She’s with me.”

  “She’s gonna be with us in about ten seconds, unless you have a machine gun hidden inside that jacket.”
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  “I don’t want any innocents to get hurt.”

  The wolf took a loud sniff. “What are you anyway? You’re no human.”

  “Definitely right about that.”

  “She’s one of those sea freaks. I pinned out her scent the minute she sat down.”

  I shook my head in disgust. “They’re kelpies.”

  “Whatever. Now, step aside because my buddies and I are going to take the female to our alpha. We have orders.”

  “Ms. Turner is not going to be happy with you when the WPC gets involved in her business because you’ve kidnapped another kelpie. She’s already been reamed for the first one, the prisoner you had no right to hold.”

  “He killed two of our pack.”

  “You know that’s a lie. I know that’s a lie. The WPC knows it’s a lie.”

  “I’m not lying. They were chopped to pieces.”

  “That’s true, but they weren’t members of your pack and they weren’t killed by the male you held prisoner.”

  “I think we’ll be taking both of you with us.” They took another step forward so I chose that moment to drop my disguise, halting them in their tracks so fast, two of them stumbled.

  If I could get Ivy out of here without resorting to violence or messing with their heads, I would, but I also had to make sure these three weren’t going to spill the beans about us thinking the pack might be involved. I was positive the Catalina alpha had been complicit in two murders, so this was a situation that needed handling by the WPC.

  “Who killed those wolves?” I asked, allowing my skin to glow just a tiny bit and my voice to lower the way Fin’s did when he was throwing off power.

  “Holy crap. What are you?” All three of them were backing up, but I didn’t want them running off to report just yet.

  “Stay where you are.” The sound of my voice, the resonance, froze them in place without me going into their minds. I’d seen Fin do it but… Huh. That skill could come in handy. “Who killed the wolves?”

  “S…some guys the alpha’s mate hired.”

  “Ms. Turner hired humans?”

  “No, a few wolves from out of town—hit men.”

  “She’s hired them before.” Another wolf said.

  “From what pack?”

  “They don’t belong to a pack.”

  “Loups?”

  “Yeah.”

  How’d they get the chela?” Only blank looks. “The weapon. The big claw.”

  “From one of her people.” He pointed at Ivy.

  “Did any of you have anything to do with the murders?”

  “None of us. We’re not high enough up the chain.”

  “You should thank the stars that’s the case. Did you really have orders from your alpha to bring in the girl?”

  “No. We were just gonna…take her somewhere, have some fun and leave her. We wouldn’t have hurt her. She wanted it.”

  Another lie. They would have killed her. “If you want to keep your skins, you’ll stay in town tonight. I’m calling the WPC and they’ll be hitting Catalina with a squad. You’ll be questioned, and if you’re clean, you’ll be placed in another pack. Don’t think about calling your alpha or anyone else on Catalina. I’ll know if you do.”

  I stepped closer. Their heartbeats picked up speed. “And if I ever hear that any of you has hurt a female of any species, I’ll come after you.”

  Without turning back or taking my eyes off the wolves, I held out my hand to Ivy. Her light touch calmed my own racing heart. I led her back to the street and home again.

  “Jay, Rylen.” I shouted after opening the door.

  “Whoa. I almost don’t recognize you, it’s been so long.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Look in the mirror.”

  In the heat of the moment I’d dropped the redheaded guy for the real me and then forgot to change back. No wonder they were so freaked out. My redhead was only around 5’10”. I grew almost a foot right before their eyes.

  “So this is the real you, huh?” Ivy asked.

  “Yep.”

  “Well, now you really look like a fae lord.”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  “Is your mom a brunette?” She touched my hair. It was pretty long.

  “Blonde.”

  “Short?”

  “No, 5’9” or so.”

  “Then you look like her.”

  “I wish.”

  “He does, don’t listen to him.’ Jay had come into the bathroom too. Now three of us were squeezed into this small room.

  “The shrimp is suffocating.” Jay picked her up and sat her on the counter. “What were you thinking, Ivy?”

  “Your boss and I already had that conversation.”

  “You’re staying in the house until…”

  “That part too.”

  “When you’re trained…”

  “Ditto.” They were both laughing.

  “Well, he better not have told you this.” And Jay kissed her.

  “I’m outta here.” I squeezed out the door, almost bumping into Rylen.

  “I did not realize that the toilet room was also used for meetings.”

  “Bathroom.”

  His eyes doubled in size when he got a good look at me. “Lord.” He knelt.

  “I’m nobody’s lord. I’m Charlie—your boss, if you want to stick around, but only if you call me Charlie.”

  “I do indeed wish to stay.”

  “Fine. I’m calling my uncle again.” The poor guy just got off a plane, now he was going to have to get back on another. Maybe he’d luck out and they’d send another representative and let him rest. “Rylen, you call your dad and tell him to check out Tellek as a possible chela thief, but don’t let Tellek know he’s being investigated. Have someone search his room when they know he’s going to be out for a while.”

  “Yes, lord.”

  “Rylen…”

  “Yes, boss.” Rylen walked toward the office.

  “Jay,” I called out.

  Jay poked his head out of the bathroom door. “Nothing’s going on. We’re talking.”

  “Uh huh. You need to be working. Call the San Gabrielle Mountain pack and tell them we may have found their two wolves. Be gentle, but be honest. Someone will have to come to identify the bodies.”

  “What about me?” Ivy asked.

  “Call Tellek. Tell him you want to meet him on land. You have something important to discuss with him.”

  “What? He’s the last…”

  “Do it. Arrange a meeting for early tomorrow morning. Just after dawn would be good.”

  “Okay, boss.”

  “You learned the magic words. Good.”

  She mumbled something under her breath, which I ignored. Jay and Rylen finished their assignments while I was still on the phone with Aaron. “Hold on a sec., Uncle Aaron.”

  “Could you cook something, Jay? I think we’re going to have guests tonight.”

  “There’s no more room.”

  “There’s plenty of room.”

  “This is feeling more and more like a mob operation.” He headed off to the kitchen. “C’mon Rylen. It’s time to teach you to make Lasagna.”

  “I would be pleased to learn such a thing.”

  Jay shouted so we’d all hear, “Hope you all like garlic, ‘cause I’m dosing it up heavy.”

  Jay liked to cook, so I knew Rylen was in good hands. Ivy was looking a little pale, however. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. Tellek will meet us at 6 am on the usual dock. He won’t come alone.”

  “Neither will I.” I took her hand, shooting her a little touch of healing energy. “The wolves freak you out?”

  “Me, nah.” I arched an eyebrow. “Well, yeah.”

  “You were brave. You did good.”

  She smiled full out. “Thanks.” I bet people didn’t tell her that too often.

  “Go help Jay.”

  “You sure?”

  “You can make a salad, rig
ht?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Just stay away from the stove.” I got back on the phone. “Sorry. I had to get the troupes organized.”

  “Hi Charlie, this is Kathy. Aaron left already. He’s bringing Franklin and another WPC rep.”

  “Cool.”

  “You’ll see him soon. Night.”

  “Good night. Say hi to Sammy.”

  “I will.”

  “Jay we have three wolves coming, so make sure there’s leftovers. They probably won’t get here for a few hours.”

  “Okay.”

  I sprawled on one of the large new couches that had been delivered this morning, compliments of Aaron. According to him, our very empty place had looked like one of those refugee shelters filled with desperate people sitting on the floor. The couches were both pullouts, which got Jay and Rylen a better night’s sleep. The smaller couch had been moved to the office, where the delivery guys had assembled a desk and an office chair. There were boxes everywhere, waiting to be unpacked, filled with more blankets and sheets, cookware, glasses and plates and any other household necessity you could think of.

  My two male companions had continued to insist that Ivy take one bedroom and I take the other, and I only argued for a minute or two. To be honest, I was grateful to have a place for some alone time at the end of the day.

  The main meeting place would be the kitchen, now furnished with a good-sized oak table and eight chairs. Back home in Crescent City the kitchen was always the heart of the house, a place to eat, but also to plan and debate and sometimes argue. Mostly laugh.

  Jay was in heaven with all his new high-end cookware and appliances. Sometimes I think he liked working around a stove more than in front of his laptop or in his dad’s lab. From my place on the couch I could hear them all chatting and laughing, chopping and banging pots and pans. It was the best sound ever, one that brought back good memories. Feeling more relaxed than I had in days I closed my eyes and thought about what had gone down with the wolves.

  I hadn’t messed with their minds, and I hadn’t used any violence. That alone made me proud of how I’d handled the situation, and I figured Garrett would’ve been proud of me too. Kennet would’ve killed them on the spot and walked away without regret. I wasn’t like him, at least not today.